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Yes, essential spending would happen. But why upgrade your car, or go out to eat, or go on a vacation, or all the other non-essential spending that powers our e

Yes, essential spending would happen. But why upgrade your car, or go out to eat, or go on a vacation, or all the other non-essential spending that powers our economy? Even a very small change in these behaviors has huge effects because one person's spending is another person's income.

mkirklions 8y ago
> why upgrade your car, or go out to eat, or go on a vacation, or all the other non-essential spending that powers our economy? I find 0 of those good. Upgrading your car when you dont need to is wreckless spending. Maybe the Economy changes to become more conservative and less environmentally damaging. Going out to eat + vacations are unnecessary expenses. And btw, I completely doubt people are going to stop doing those 3.
- jonknee 8y ago
  Consumer spending is what keeps everyone employed. Even in Silicon Valley because who do you think is buying all the ads? > Upgrading your car when you dont need to is wreckless spending. But that's what creates the used car market, which is much bigger than the new car market. When people stop buying new cars it means tons of layoffs, which means tons of reduced spending by all the previously employed auto workers, which means more businesses lay people off, etc etc.
- s73v3r_ 8y ago
  "I find 0 of those good." I'm sure you do. But the chef who makes their living cooking food doesn't. The person who makes their living running tours doesn't. And the people employed by both definitely don't.
vokep 8y ago
so it would boost essential spending but take away from useless consumerism spending? And thats a bad thing?
- jonknee 8y ago
  Consumer spending going away means business spending going away which means jobs go away... Which means more consumer spending goes away and you can fill in the rest. Personal Consumption Expenditures make up ~70% of the US GDP. Unless you really enjoy recessions you don't want to see it go down.

mkirklions 8y ago

> why upgrade your car, or go out to eat, or go on a vacation, or all the other non-essential spending that powers our economy? I find 0 of those good. Upgrading your car when you dont need to is wreckless spending. Maybe the Economy changes to become more conservative and less environmentally damaging. Going out to eat + vacations are unnecessary expenses. And btw, I completely doubt people are going to stop doing those 3.

jonknee 8y ago
Consumer spending is what keeps everyone employed. Even in Silicon Valley because who do you think is buying all the ads? > Upgrading your car when you dont need to is wreckless spending. But that's what creates the used car market, which is much bigger than the new car market. When people stop buying new cars it means tons of layoffs, which means tons of reduced spending by all the previously employed auto workers, which means more businesses lay people off, etc etc.
s73v3r_ 8y ago
"I find 0 of those good." I'm sure you do. But the chef who makes their living cooking food doesn't. The person who makes their living running tours doesn't. And the people employed by both definitely don't.

vokep 8y ago

so it would boost essential spending but take away from useless consumerism spending? And thats a bad thing?

jonknee 8y ago
Consumer spending going away means business spending going away which means jobs go away... Which means more consumer spending goes away and you can fill in the rest. Personal Consumption Expenditures make up ~70% of the US GDP. Unless you really enjoy recessions you don't want to see it go down.